USC Fires Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch After 52-42 Loss to Washington

USC football has fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch after a series of defensive failures, head coach Lincoln Riley told reporters on Sunday.

Grinch followed Riley from Oklahoma when USC hired Riley in 2022.

The Trojans lost to No. 5 University of Washington 52-42 Saturday night, the latest in a series of high-scoring games for USC.

Although reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams has been productive for the USC offense, the defense has given up too many points for it to matter. USC has allowed opponents to score 40 or more points in five of its last six games.

USC suffered its first loss of the season against now-22-ranked Notre Dame on Oct. 14, but the problems started before then, with a near-rally from Colorado and a tight triple-OT win against Arizona. A low point for the Trojans was another high-scoring game, with USC getting an unexpectedly tight 50-49 win last week over perennially mediocre Cal.

Following Saturday's loss to Washington, USC fell out of the AP rankings for the first time since 2022 and is third in the Pac-12 with a 7-3 record.

The school said that Shaun Nua and Brian Odom will serve as interim co-defensive coordinators for the rest of the season.

USC will travel to Eugene on Saturday to play its second top-ten matchup in a row against No. 6 Oregon.